Man Acquitted in Murray State Arson in Court Again

A man acquitted during a second trial in a fatal Murray State University dormitory fire has pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with evidence in the case.

The Paducah Sun reports Jerry Walker, Jr. entered his plea in a Calloway County courtroom Monday. A hearing was set for Sept. 7 to address defense motions to dismiss the charges.

A jury last month found Walker not guilty of arson, manslaughter, assault, and wanton endangerment in the 1998 fire that killed student Michael Minger of Niceville, Florida, and injured several others.

The Sun has reported the charged were related to six anonymous letters that were used as evidence in last month's trial.

A grand jury has returned sealed indictments on the tampering charges before the latest trial.